Inter Coach Simone Inzaghi: “Federico Dimarco Taking Penalty Was My Decision” | OneFootball

Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi is disappointed that Federico Dimarco was unable to continue his impressive start to the season by converting a penalty which would have put his team 3-2 up against Atalanta this evening, but takes responsibility for selecting the player to take the spot kick.

Speaking to DAZN after this evening’s 2-2 draw with La Dea at the San Siro, the Nerazzzurri coach gave his immediate reaction to a dramatic game which saw a missed penalty and a disallowed goal keep the score from getting any higher.

Inter took the lead early in the match through an impressive Lautaro Martinez volley from a Nicolo Barella delivery, but this was far from the end of the scoring in a match which saw Atalanta build a lead of their own before the Nerazzurri pegged them back to restore parity.

Inter could have gone one better having had a penalty awarded by VAR for a Merih Demiral handball in the box, but Dimarco hit the crossbar with his effort.

“It was a very exciting match,” Inzaghi said, “the fans will have enjoyed it. There remains a bitter taste after that second half: we could have deserved something more without detracting from Atalanta’s excellent performance.”

He went on, “We fell apart after the failed penalty, but in the first twenty minutes of the first half and throughout the second half we saw an excellent Inter against a very strong team.”

On the substitutes he said, “Everyone must continue to train like this, they helped us by raising the team’s level. Sanchez also came on in the best way.”

“Vecino did very well, as did Dumfries, Sanchez,” the manager continued, “They are growing. And don’t forget also D’Ambrosio and Gagliardini who have had problems but who are very important to me. We need everyone in terms of timing and the team rhythm.”

On the decision for Dimarco to take the spot kick late in the second half Inzaghi said, “It was mine. This morning Calhanoglu and Lautaro also practiced , but they were no longer on the pitch. Then we also had Perisic.”

“I’m sorry because he made a great start to the season and he would have deserved the winning goal at San Siro. but happy because I saw a team fighting until the end,” he reflected.

“There are twenty minutes in the first half plus fifty in the second,” he said of when his team played well. “Let’s not forget that Atalanta are an opponent of absolute quality. We accept the result, but we deserved more.”

And on midfielder Niccolo Barella’s strong performance he said, “He has been playing like this for years now, I am not surprised. He’s a modern, complete midfielder, who must continue on like this.”